Sunday, August 31, 2014

Pityriasis Rosea

A Latin name meaning essentially, a rash. I have it. Lucky me. It's not life threatening and apparently is only a big problem if you're pregnant. Not likely to have that problem. It showed up about 3 weeks ago about the same time I realized the draggy feeling and painful/slightly scratchy throat I'd had for at least 3 days was probably some kind of cold or virus. Then one morning I woke up to some irregular red spots on my stomach. They seemed to coincided with locations I had removed ticks from earlier this summer. I thought it was kind of odd but didn't think much about it, they weren't the circular rigs associated with Lyme disease.

As I had already scheduled a doctor's appointment with my physician's assistant 10 days later I just ignored them as they didn't really itch. Two days before my appointment however, Hal noticed small bumps all over my back and more little ones had sprouted all over my stomach and seemed to be spreading onto my arms and legs. So though I was still not that concerned I got my appointment moved up to that same day. As soon as my PA saw it she laughed and told me exactly what it was. She apologized for laughing but apparently she was slightly giddy at being able to see such a nice textbook case.

Not a thing I can do about it. If it itches I can apply creams, calamine lotion, take an allergy pill, etc. Supposedly it goes away in 6-8 weeks. I don't know if that is from the onset or after the spots stop appearing. I don't know if they have stopped spreading. I took a couple photos four days apart earlier this week and they seemed to be about the same but I swear there were more yesterday. I guess I'll have to take another photo for comparison. But here's one of the taken on the 25th, just a closeup of a few along my right side. enjoy.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Lady Sibyl's Shawl

I've been working on and off since my previous post on the Edwardian Lady Sibyl. I finished the last row last night. The pattern calls for 18 dc shells for that row but almost nobody did that. I didn't either, instead I did a 2nd 12 dc shell row and I think it looks plenty ruffly. The first photo is after the 10 dc row was finished, the closeup after the first 12 dc.
Through 10 dc shell row
Later today I'll start the final edging with consists of a lot of loops and shells around the top edge.

I also have to turn in my 4 items to the County Fair which starts tomorrow. I've chosen two cardigans; Anemone and Lattice and still have to choose which 2 shawls to bring.

Lady Rose Shawl Test

Doing yet another test for Michelle DuNaier of ravelry. This is the last of 4 shawls she has designed based on the Crawley sisters of Downton Abbey, a show that has appeared on PBS stations in the US. Rose is the cousin of the 3 sisters, Mary, Edith and Sybil. Lady Sybil was the other shawl in this series that I tested. Others tested Edith and Mary.

This one is much faster because the shells are more open and airy then all the dc's in Sybil. The edging is very lacy as well whereas it was tightly connected in Sybil. I am using Red Heart Stardust in the olive for the body and the purple for the edging. I only had 3 skeins of olive and 2 of purple as Red Heart chose to discontinue this yarn. I bought the last of the skeins available at the Lincoln Hardware store. Joann's was already out of them, if they even had them. (The 2 other colors I have were purchased directly from Red Heart over a year ago.)
The yarn is wool and stretchy though the metallic thread running through it will keep it from stretching as far as it could have when I block it. I'd have made it bigger than it is if I'd had 4 skeins of olive, as it is it I find it barely wide enough when I outstretch my arms. Hopefully the edging will make it large enough to be useful. I simply can't get into the shawlette sizes that so many like to wrap around their necks like a scarf or bandanna.

Here is the finished olive section. There is a 6" ruler in the upper left corner for an idea of size. The edging is going fairly quickly now, I might get it done before the end of the week.
It's done and blocking. I stretched the heck out of it and lightly steamed it. On the pins it measures 23.5" by 62".

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

2014 Alcona County Fair Crochet Results

I entered 4 items, 2 shawls and 2 sweaters. I wasn't really pleased with my available shawls, the one I would have liked to enter, the Goldberry, I had given away. Hal, Chooser or Shawls suggested the Design Diva which is not my favorite, I had trouble with color, design, the stitches, it was just an all around frustrating project that I was happy to be finished with, and also my Patronus which is a riot of color and while pretty with lots of interesting stitches doesn't have the lacy look. Diva took 2nd and Patronus 3rd. Unfortunately, yet again I was my own competition which means I lost first place to no one. The judges didn't think they were up to snuff either. Still it felt disappointing.
Home Arts Items, Patronus is the circular shawl in middle right side
I did better with my sweaters. Anemone came in second and my Lattice cardigan took first. I know I haven't taken a photo of my Lattice blocked and finished so I will try to do that and add it later. I am very pleased how it came out even if it doesn't fit me.
Anemone in front, Lattice in back

Lunatic Update

My little lady seems to be doing much better without those cracked teeth. She is eating well, running about like a maniac and I think is just feeling much better. She still doesn't wanting me touching her mouth on that side so I hope it's just a little tenderness that will go away and not some lingering infection. Her gums were cut open after all. I'll give it till the end of the week which will be 3 weeks since the surgery and really take a good look whether she likes it or not. Have to be sure everything is okay.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Luna Has Fewer Teeth Now

I took a quick shot of Luna's bad teeth last night.
We left home just before 8 am, dropped Ziggy off with a friend with his two dogs (Ms J is away from home) and drove to the vet. Got there just before 9 walked her to do her business. I left at 9:30 and spent the next 4 hours going to 3 grocery stores, a lovely yarn store (where I bought some yarn), and happened upon a sidewalk sale where I almost acquired a nice pair of hiking shoes, but they didn't have my size.

I got back the vet's office at 1:30 and was informed Luna was awake, surgery took longer than expected, more than an hour to get just the fang/canine out. Apparently the root started breaking apart after the tooth portion broke off and he had to keep digging to get it all out. The doctor had to cut into the gum to get it all. (That was planned anyway). The smaller incisor on the top came out very easily.

Here's what the tooth and some of the root looked like after the extraction. I'm very glad it and the smaller one is out.
And here's my girl at home. Sleeping is what she's been doing all night. I've gotten her to eat a few treats but otherwise sleep is what she needs and wants. After looking at that tooth, I suspect she's going to feel a lot better in a few days.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Ripe Tomatoes!

Picked my first tomatoes today. There are Juliet cherries grown in a pot on the east side of the deck. They were very tasty. There are more ripening but there aren't a lot on the vines. Most of the tomato vines are very leggy. I figure not enough sunlight. Be a while longer before the bigger tomatoes are ripe. No flowers on any zucchini or cucumber plants either.
Shown slightly larger than actual size

Luna's Teeth

Took Luna to the vet today (with Ziggy as panicked companion) for Dr King to take another look at the teeth she damaged a few months back while tearing (I assume) out roots during the massive digging campaigns the dogs have been on since the ground thawed. Her teeth had hairline fractures and had turned pink, they have since turned a grayish brown and she doesn't eat dinner with her usual gusto, more like lets use my tongue and tease this kibble into the back of my mouth and chew it. I suspect she's in pain and does a great job at hiding it.

They took a blood sample today and checked her blood count, kidney and liver function and probably something else I can't remember. There was no sign of any infection so she's good to go. I take her back Friday morning, dropping her off at 9 am and picking her up at 4:30. Surgery will be around 11 am. As it's an hour drive there and another back I have opted to take a book, some crochet, my nook or laptop, haven't decided which and will park myself someplace pleasant while this goes on. Otherwise I will hit a couple stores, Wal-mart for instance and the local yarn store I've only been to once before to pass the time.

I just hope everything goes fine. I'll be worrying from now till I pick her back up.

Monday, August 4, 2014

August Update

Not a lot to relate. I'm still working on the test shawl, as you can see it's getting bigger. Working on a 4th yellow section now because it's still much too small. It's only about 32" wide in this photo.
Saturday I turned in my registration form for the county fair. I'm submitting 2 shawls and 2 sweaters. Don't know which yet and I still need to add buttons and block 2 of the 3 sweaters that are eligible (handmade by me and not entered previously seem to be the only rules. Got to get them done by the 18th. Have to buy buttons for one of them, will be going to Alpena tomorrow to do that.

Having another heat wave. Yesterday hit 88 degrees with 98% humidity, not pleasant, but I managed to walk the dogs through the woods 5 loops around. Rode my exercise bike too for the 2nd day in a row. Hal and I have finally really started doing better on our weight loss program. No mega snacks at night unless it's fruit. Last night was a pitiful flavorless watermelon and some cherries. I've gotten through 3 days of this and it's a little easier every day. He's been doing this at camp mostly while he works on food plots, mowing, blind building. He did have pizza at his parent's house the other night but he turned down the ice cream. I want to lose 4-5 pounds by September 1. The plan a month ago to lose 10 was just not realistic. 4 pounds in 4 weeks is though. Just have to keep it up!

Ziggy has climbed halfway onto my chair right now and Luna is staring at me. I think they want to go for their morning walk. I suppose I ought to oblige them as it's still only 71 outside and as I said, there isn't much else to say.